Putting the puzzles of the past together

Shobha Nihalani, a journalist-turned-author, was recently in Bangalore to launch her book The Silent Monument. The book is set in the backdrop of the Taj Mahal where a journalist stumbles across an ancient scroll and is murdered. His widow now has the scroll and has to decide on its fate. An outfit that includes a famous dancer, film producer, academics and others seek to give her protection, as does the police officer investigating the case.

The underworld has an interest in getting hold of the scroll. And working in tandem with all of them is an archaeologist who has his personal agenda to follow. Weaving all these strands together, the story emerges to tell a compelling account of India, its history and how it shapes and in turn gets shaped by contemporary India. Here are some things she had to say on the book and how it was shaped:

You have a degree in business and were a journalist. How did the transition to being a fiction writer happen?
I realised that I needed a more creative outlet. When I was reading fiction, I was taken by the author’s ability to weave intricate tales. It kind of inspired me to tread into the world of imaginative writing. I was hooked once I started with short stories and then moved on to writing a novel.

How did you form the plot of The Silent Monument? Did it come out of any previous research?
My imagination thrives on conspiracy theories and added to that is my keen interest in Indian monuments. I have always been fascinated by the many references to Indian history and mythology. When I was in my final year university and preparing for my thesis, British Rule in India — An economic assessment, much of my research was done in the library of the Fergusson College in Pune. I think going through those dusty tomes on the history of India left an impression on my mind.

Why is the Taj Mahal the backdrop here?
The Taj Mahal is one of the most prominent and beautiful monuments in India. I have always sensed an aura of mystery surrounding it.

What was the research process like? Did you travel extensively? Did you use many secondary sources?
The process involved gathering information from many sources. My travel experiences were supplemented by reading extensively on those places and speaking to others about their experiences. It helps to get different perspectives of the same site. And since I wanted to cover as much description of the places and their histories, I was motivated to do research beyond travelling.

Silence plays an important role in the book. Much happens because of what is not explicitly stated. What do you think is the role of silence in shaping history?
Much of history is shrouded in silence. Every archaeological find is like a new voice given to a person in history — whether an architect, artist, writer, politician and so on. Since most of history is simply hidden in silence, we, or rather historians, fill the silence with deductions, extrapolations and secondary knowledge. This piecing together of a jigsaw puzzle is what shapes the history we know— it forms a mask for the silent past.

Currently, thanks to the Internet and print media, future historians will look at our era and know almost exactly what is going on now. In the modern age, the silence of the passage of time is replaced by the voices of people all over the world. Their voices will be heard by those in the future who want to know about their past.

What do you define as history? The narration of the past? The bits that are not narrated? The agendas that shape the narration? How does a nation with multiple narratives find its past?
History is a mix of narration and extrapolation. It is difficult to separate facts from opinions also, and that is where the historian’s work becomes vital. A nation with multiple narratives actually has one common thread of fact linking them. Our historians are doing important work in finding out what truly happened in the past.

What is it like being a full-time author? What is your life like when you are not writing?
When I am in the middle of writing, the plot and characters are constantly in the back of my mind. Usually, while commuting, I am thinking about the plot or character and then jot down some important points in a notebook. When I sit down to write, I already have a framework of what I need to add to the storyline and then I just let it flow. When I’m not writing, I work part-time in the family business. I do meet friends, and I’m on the committee of a publishing society and member of a writers’ group. And I do try and fit in a game of badminton from time to time.

Could you give the readers an idea of what Nine Unknown and Unresolved (books to be published) are going to be like?
Nine Unknown is a thriller as well. It refers to a secret society started during King Ashoka’s era. It is believed the secret society still exists today. And their members carry powerful knowledge of ancient times, and this knowledge, in the wrong hand, can lead to destruction. The modern-day story is about good versus evil and there is plenty of action by characters with superhuman abilities.
Unresolved is a dark psychological thriller about a woman who suspects her husband is not who he claims he is. This is more of a mystery-suspense kind of story where the protagonist’s sanity is also questioned.